Friction-clutch.



G. G. NELSON. FRICTION GL UTGH.

" APPLIHOATION' FILED MAR. 14, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914 UNITED STATES rnrENT OFFICE.

GUSTAYE C. NELSON, OF MULINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORG &: BECK COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FRIGTiON-CLUTCH.

1,099,509. Specifi at of Letters Patent Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed March 14, 1813. Serial No. 754,212. r

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, GUSTAVE C. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction- Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to friction clutches and aims to provide a friction clutch of new and improved construction particularly adapted'for use in motor driven vehicles and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a friction clutch wherein the driving and driven shafts may be frictionally connected by simple devices so constructed and arranged that the strength of the frictional engagement will increase with the running speed of the motor.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the parts of the clutchthat wear thereof within relatively wide limits will not require reconstruction or readjustment of the'elutch,

A still further object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch for automobiles and the like wherein the driving and'driven elementswill be promptly separated when the clutch is thrown out, reducing thereby the duty of the brake which is ordinarily provided u on the driven-shaft of an automobile to firing the shaft to rest after the clutch has been thrown out p y An additional ob'ect of the invention is toprovide a clutc wherein the various devices, when in inoperative positions, will be firmly held and revented from rattling.

Other objects an advantages of the in- 4 vention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description ta en in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof. I

On. the drawing: the figure is a longitudinal sectional View of a clutch embodying my invention.

eferrin-g to the drawin 1 .desi nates the driving shaft and 2 the iven sha t. A

fly-wheel 3 is fastened by means of bolts 4 to a collar 5 fixed upon the shaft 1, so that the fly-wheel rotates continuously with the shaft 1 and with it constitutes the driving element of the clutch. In the resent instance the end of the shaft 2a jacent the shaft 1 is supported in a pilot bearing 6 at the center of the fly-wheel. A casing 7 embracing the shaft 2 is fixed to the fiy-wheel 3 by means of a plurality of bolts or other sultable fastening means 8 so that the cas- 6o ing rotates with the fly-wheel and with the shaft 1. I A collar 9, non which is fastened the friction disk 11 y means of bolts or rivets 12, is splined upon the driven shaft 2 at thrust. ring 14: of diameter equal substantially to the internal diameter of the casing is mounted within the casing adjacent the disk 11. This ring is free to slide longitudinally of the casing and is held against rotation relatively thereto by driving studs 15 threaded through the cylindrical Wall of the casing at 16 and taking into grooves 17 extending transversely of the outer cylindrical face of the ring; A pair 76 of rings 18 of. asbestos or other frictional' material are preferably provided, one be tween the adjacent faces-of the fiy-wheel 3 and the disk 11 and theother'between the ring 14 .These friction rin may be socured to the-disk 11 or to t e fly-wheel 3 and thrust ring 14, or they ma merely rest between the opposed faces 0 these mem- 1'8 Tlie'thrust ring. 14 is moved toward the left, viewing the figure, to establish a'fric- 'tional connection between the thrust ring, disk and fly-wheel when the clutch is thrown pivoted at 21 in ugs or ears 22 secured to the inner surfaces of the rear wall of the casing. Each of the bell cranks 19 has an arm preferably provided with a roller 23 adapted to bear against the adjacent face 24 of the thrust ring, the roller being at all times disposed nearer the axes of rotation of the shafts l and 2 than the pivotal conmotion of the bell crank so that outward movement of the bell crank about its pivot 21 will swing the roller outwardly from the axes of rotation of the shafts, causing it to rollover the face 24 of the thrust ring and move the thrust ring toward the fly-wheel. In order that the bell cranks mag give greatermovement to the thrust ring t e face 24 of the thrust ring is preferably inclined or beveled from its inner edge to its outer edge, as seen in the figure. The other longer adjacent faces of the disk 11 and the thrust 80 I in by means of a lurality ofbell cranks 19 90 arm of each bell crank extends inwardly of v of the shafts and terminates in an annular speed of the driving element will automatically be accompanied by an increased tenac- 1ty of engagement between the surfaces 0 the disk, fly-wheel and thrust ring, as t e degree of centrifugal force exerted upon the bell crank is proportionate to the speed at which the casing and bell cranks rotate. will be noted also that the asbestos rings 18 may wear appreciably without requiring that new asbestos rings be provided, as the rollers 23 may travel across the beveled face of the thrust ring 14: between limits farther from-the center of the ring than were the limits between which these rollers moved when the asbestos rings were new, it only being necessaryto replace the rings when the outer limit of travel of the rollers will carry them past the line of maximum pressure.

It is believed that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be apparent from the foregoing withoutfurther descrip-- tion and it will be apparent that numerous changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the' form herein before disclosed the casing toward the axes of rotation groove 27 in a collar 28 where it may be provided with a roller 29 loosely fitting in the groove. The collar 28 is mounted upon and embraces a clutch throw-out sleeve loose upon the shaft 2 and slidably connected to the rear wall of the casing by a driving spline 30. At its e d adjacent the end of the shaft the sleeve'3l is provided with an outwardly extending flange 32 adapted when the sleeve is move toward the right, viewing the figure,to engage the collar 28 and pull the bell cranks about their pivots to throw out the clutch. A collar 33 is threaded upon the end of the sleeve 31 and this collar is connected to ayoke 34 by anti-fric tion bearing 35. The yoke 34 does not rotate and is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the shaft by a suitable clutch lever (not shown). When the yoke is moved towar the left, viewing the figure, to throw in the clutch, the collar 28 is caused to renew the flange 32 by a spiral spring 36 which is interposed for this purpose between the rear wall of the casing and the adjacent face of the collar 28.

When, the clutch is thrown in, the spring 36 acts through the collar 28 and upon the arms 26 of the bell cranks, moving them about their pivotal axes so that the rollers 23 roll up the beveled face 2a of the thrust ring if and move the thrust ring longitudinally of the shaftstoward the fly-wheel and frictionally disk and fyfiy-wheel. When sleeve 31 is moved to throw-out the clutch the bell cranks are moved in the oppos'te direction and cease to press'upon the thrust ring. In order that the frictional engagement may be immediately broken.'when the clutch is thrown thereof.

I claim:

1. In a friction clutch, the combination of a driving element,'a driven elemen't, a casing fixed to one element and embracing the other element, a member mounted within and movable longitudinally of 'the casing, and a bell crank pivoted within the casing and having an arm engaging the said member inwardly of the pivot of the bell crank, said member being constructed to increase the throw of said bell crank.

2. In a friction clutch, the combination out, a plurality of springs 37 are fastened at of a driving element, a driven element, a their ends to lugs 38 upon the casing and t0 casing fixed to one element and embracing lugs 39 on the thrust ring, the springs the other lement, a member mounted within pulling the thrust rin toward the rear wa and movable longitudinally of said casing,

of the casing so that t e thrust rin follows the rollers as they are retracted b t e throw- These springs a so serve to 'a face of the said member and to move th -if prevent the rollers, bell cranks and other said member when the bell crank is move relatively moving partsof the clutch from about its pivot, the :face 'over which sai rattling when the clutch is inoperative as bell crank slides being deflectedfroma plane 'sprin thrust ring to .firmlypress all of said member.

they cause the at right angles to the axis of the rollers and the bell cranks mto firm 3. In a ietion clutch, the combination contact with their connected parts. of a driving element, a' driven element, a The bell cranks are preferably mounted casing secur to one elementand embracwithin the casing so that thecenter of graving the other, a member mounted within the ity of each is permanently disposed to thev casing to 'movelongitudinally thereof and left, viewing the figure, o the plane of rohaving a beveled face, and a bell crank piv- -tation of its pivotal axis,

shaft 1 rotates, the bell cranks will be pglfiled. about their pivotal connections with t'e casing by centrifugal force aiding the the transmission parts of. frictional contact. It is that any increase in theso that as the drivoted within the casing and having an arm positionedto engage sai her and slide thereacross when the bell crank the said member to fricthe combination driven element, a

thee utch in firm of a driving element, a

being merelv one preferred embodiment ace of the mere-- and having a flat face and a beveled face inclined toward the said casing, and a bell crank pivoted Within the casing and having driving element, a driven element, a casing fixed to one element and embracing the other element, a thrust member mounted and to the said member for maintaining the said member and bell crank immovable when the said member and bell sai member and against the action of said first-mentioned spring.

In a friction clutch, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, a casing fixed to one of said elements and pivoted Without the plane of its rotation of its center of gravity and outwardly of the path of travel of its center of gravity, wherefor moving said, bell cranktoward pivoted in a plane parallel to the their centers of gravity and outwardly of the path of travel ofits center of ravity, 70 whereby said bell cranks are pulled trifugal force clutch rotates.

by said bell crank is pulled by centrifugal force to increase the frictional between the elements as the clutch rotates.

engagement crank mounted within the member, said bell crank bethe path of travel of its center of gravity, whereby said bell crank is pulled by centrifforce against the said member as the clutch rotates.

8. In a friction clutch, the combination a driven element, a

ment between the elements, and a plurality casing, said bell cranks being plane of y cenagainst said member as the GUSTAVE O. NELSON.

lNitnesses:

(l. W. Bone ALcor W.

LISON. 

